Abstract

Transient protection is an important issue in pipeline design. As protective devices impose a huge cost on the project, it is better and more efficient to use optimization models for determination of their position and type with the aim of cost reduction. Except for the cost, the other important issue in obtaining the number and locating of protective devices is the consideration of important operational parameters during the utilization of the pipelines. This paper introduces a new objective function called ‘serviceability factor’ for achieving the best layout for protection devices by considering five main operational parameters. A double-objective model has been used to optimize the protective devices to obtain the minimum of cost and the most appropriate level of operational parameters. The presented model utilizes the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGAII) simultaneously with transient analysis through the method of characteristics. A real pipeline has been optimized using this model and the results are presented in the form of Pareto optimal solutions.